Too much heat? AVR in a cupboard?

[Chrispy]

Neumann KH 80 center
Turntable with Graham Slee preamp
Cambridge CXU
Amp(s)/or AVR.

At the moment the CXU and the turntable/Graham Slee are connected directly to Topping PA 5 II and a pretty old Class D amp, which has to be replaced, partly using a passive preamp and some switch boxes. KH 80 directly connected to CXU center.

Found an old photo of the closed cupboard. TV behind three doors on the right, rest behind one door on the left (approximately).

Be more interesting to see inside the cabinet....

 

[Robin L]

I'm considering giving up my resistance and getting an AVR.

Problem: They seem to get more or less hot.

The location would be in a cupboard. I can open the front completely, but it would be very tight on the sides, top, bottom and back.

Can an AVR be operated like this?

Are there certain devices that run cool enough for this?

A fan is out of the question.

No.

 

[kyuu]

So completely sealed with no airflow at all?

OP says that he can open the front, so no not completely sealed.

 

[Robin L]

Thanks a lot for your helpful answers.

In terms of width, the AVR would only just fit into the cupboard. Above and below it depends on the placement of other devices, but there isn't much leeway there either. From the front everything could be open.

Unfortunately, I'm currently traveling and don't have the exact measurements. I could post a photo in just under two weeks or so.

I was also thinking about small Class D AVRs. Unfortunately a rare species.

I already had the Canton Smart Amp. But I returned it because it produced a very strong chemical smell, even from a long distance.

I was now thinking about the JBL MA series, which is unfortunately larger than the Canton.

I would also prefer to have a pre out so that I can continue to use my active monitor as a center. But if something like the JBL should work that might be worth a compromise.

Unfortunately, I didn't find any other small Class D devices. Except for Nubert, who is terribly measured here.

Figure out a way to not put an AVR into a cabinet. It's way too easy for it to overheat. Not worth it. AVRs should not be in a cabinet, full stop.

 

[kyuu]

I would wager that roughly 90% of AVRs spend their life in a cabinet with restricted space on at least some dimensions. Some even live in a cabinet with a door that's closed nearly 100% of the time. It's hardly uncommon for people to want to keep their electronics out of sight, particularly what is generally a big ugly box like an AVR. It's not ideal, but I think people are being a little overly touchy here.

My Denon AVR-X1700H has very little space on the top, the primary channel for convective cooling, and has not had any overheating issues over its fairly extended lifetime.

 

[Robin L]

I would wager that roughly 90% of AVRs spend their life in a cabinet with restricted space on at least some dimensions. Some even live in a cabinet with a door that's closed nearly 100% of the time. It's hardly uncommon for people to want to keep their electronics out of sight, particularly what is generally a big ugly box like an AVR. It's not ideal, but I think people are being a little overly touchy here.

My Denon AVR-X1700H has very little space on the top, the primary channel for convective cooling, and has not had any overheating issues over its fairly extended lifetime.

I gave an Onkyo AVR to my stepson, it landed in a cabinet with a fair amount of space on the sides and on top, it was constantly overheating. I regretted giving him that AVR. He eventually gave the AVR to a friend and bought a tiny Fosi amp to drive the Infinity Primus 360s. I don't know if the AVR's still running. I've got a very old Yamaha AVR for my desktop stereo, it runs flawlessly.

 

[Chrispy]

I would wager that roughly 90% of AVRs spend their life in a cabinet with restricted space on at least some dimensions. Some even live in a cabinet with a door that's closed nearly 100% of the time. It's hardly uncommon for people to want to keep their electronics out of sight, particularly what is generally a big ugly box like an AVR. It's not ideal, but I think people are being a little overly touchy here.

My Denon AVR-X1700H has very little space on the top, the primary channel for convective cooling, and has not had any overheating issues over its fairly extended lifetime.

The 1700 is only a few years old. Time will tell. I have had two avrs with heat issues, partly due the hdmi implementation of those units, one was repaired under extended warranty by Onkyo as it was a known issue and it works great after that repair, the other failed just beyond warranty (a Pioneer) and wasn't worth repair. I use fans now with two of four avrs where I have limited ventilation, but none are enclosed in a cabinet either, prefer the looks of gear in racks and a cabinet under a tv I don't find has much aesthetic advantage. YMMV.

 

[Sig.Rossi]

Be more interesting to see inside the cabinet....

Sure, I' m sorry. Unfortunately, I'm currently traveling. I could post a photo in just under two weeks or so.

 

[Sig.Rossi]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this?

[/QUOTE]

The compartment between TV and amp section is closed at the moment. Maybe I could open it using just two pillars to hang the shelves. So the air can also stream to the side into the large TV compartment. (Sorry for my english). Lots of effort of course. Don't know if it's worth it.

 

[JSmith]

photo

So the TV is going on the floor, that low?


JSmith

 

[kyuu]

The compartment between TV and amp section is closed at the moment. Maybe I could open it using just two pillars to hang the shelves. So the air can also stream to the side into the large TV compartment. (Sorry for my english). Lots of effort of course. Don't know if it's worth it.

Oh I see. I mean, yeah if that whole side was open that would certainly help with the airflow.

Jsmith above does bring up an interesting point... why does everything, including the TV, have to be in that cabinet?

 

[Sig.Rossi]

The television has a movable wall mount. It can be pulled out and swiveled.

I only have this location for my equipment and I'm trying to figure out how to make the most of it.

 

[Mnyb]

One can also remove the backside of the cabinett

 

[Sig.Rossi]

This is an L-shaped room. The listening/watching position is in the corner of the L.

I found that listening to music works well for me with two speakers at each end of the L.

That's why I would like to have a setup that allows me to choose between

stereo
4.0 all stereo
3.0 or 5.0. for films (maybe a sub will be added sometime)

without replugging because it is obviously very tight.

The CXU offers many options. But it has no output routing. And I don't have a solution yet that works for all the options as mentioned.

I am open for any ideas with or without AVR.

 

[Sig.Rossi]

One can also remove the backside of the cabinett

No, the backside is a wall. The front can be opened completely.

 

[JSmith]

The television has a movable wall mount.

So you're going to wall mount the TV to a cupboard on the floor? Seems a bit dodgy to me... wall mounts need to go in a solid wall section drilled into a wall stud.

Are you trying not to block the window, or?

Is this a rental or do you own the property? If you own, why not rip that wall cupboard out completely and put in a TV stand like;

You'd want to make sure the TV has a pretty high peak brightness as well, as during the day it's going to be awkward viewing with the light coming in from the window.


JSmith

 

[restorer-john]

@Sig.Rossi You've been told in no uncertain terms that placing an amplifier/receiver/AVR whatever, in a cabinet such as you are describing and showing is a very bad idea.

Unless you intend to place cooling vents in the top of the cabinet or undertake considerable effort in forced air cooling, you will not only cause the equipment to deteriorate and prematurely fail, but it could also be a fire danger, especially as gear gets older, full of dust etc.

But this is all commonsense.

 

[Sig.Rossi]

So you're going to wall mount the TV to a cupboard on the floor? Seems a bit dodgy to me... wall mounts need to go in a solid wall section drilled into a wall stud.

Are you trying not to block the window, or?

Is this a rental or do you own the property? If you own, why not rip that wall cupboard out completely and put in a TV stand like;

View attachment 391791

You'd want to make sure the TV has a pretty high peak brightness as well, as during the day it's going to be awkward viewing with the light coming in from the window.


JSmith

Yes, thanks. I also thought about that. No renting. It's the outer stonewall of the house. I have some metal heavy duty dowels and a high quality wall mount. The guys who did a lot of work inside the house said it will work out. So hopefully they are right.

I have an LG Qned which works fine for me.

 

[Sig.Rossi]

@Sig.Rossi You've been told in no uncertain terms that placing an amplifier/receiver/AVR whatever, in a cabinet such as you are describing and showing is a very bad idea.

Unless you intend to place cooling vents in the top of the cabinet or undertake considerable effort in forced air cooling, you will not only cause the equipment to deteriorate and prematurely fail, but it could also be a fire danger, especially as gear gets older, full of dust etc.

But this is all commonsense.

Yes, ok. thank you. That's why I am careful. I am asking here and everything is tested outside the cupboard.

The PA 5 II does not seem to be a problem though. It is small and does not generate much heat. From my testing it looks like I could use amps like that.

But maybe I should really skip an AVR. Don't know if the JBL works as cool as the PA 5 II.

Which leaves the problem, if I can realize the setup with small cool running class d amps and maybe some kind of preamp or a Schiit Syn?

 

[Vacceo]

Not recommended to place any amp in a enclosed cupboard with no air egress and no fan allowed. At the least I recommend this even if you don't like fans.

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